New Record of Long-Eared Hedgehog, Hemiechinus Auritus (Gmelin, 1770) in Sohag Governorate, Egypt

Short Communication

ISSN: 2574 -1241 DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2019.19.003239

Abd El-Aleem Saad Soliman Desoky* Plant protection Department (Agricultural Zoology), Egypt *Corresponding author: Abd El-Aleem Saad Soliman Desoky, Plant protection Department (Agricultural Zoology), Faculty of Agriculture, Egypt

ARTICLE INFO abstract

Received: June 12, 2019 The study aims to identify new types of rodents or small mammals in Sohag Hemiechinus Published: June 21, 2019 auritus Governorate. This study showed the new record of long-eared hedgehog, Citation: Abd El-Aleem Saad Soliman in the Village of Awlad Nasir-Naga Tarkhan, north of Sohag Governorate. It’s the Desoky. New Record of Long-Eared first record for it in Sohag Governorate (Upper Egypt). -

BiomedHedgehog, J Sci Hemiechinus & Tech Res Auritus 19(1)-2019. (Gme BJSTR.lin, 1770) MS.ID.003239. in Sohag Governorate, Egypt.

Introduction

Hemiechinus collaris is a burrowing and nocturnal species, Materials and Methods recorded near water and agricultural landscapes Roberts [1] & Molur et al. [2] This species is useful indirectly to human being noticed the presence of a hedgehog in Sohag District at the Village During the identification of rodents in Sohag Governorate, we as it consumes insects, termites and scorpions. While H. collaris of Awlad Nasir - Naja Tarkhan at the north of the Sohag District does not damage agriculture and lives on the edge of agriculture about 2km. Samples were collected for breeding in the laboratory

Long-eared hedgehog avoid high heat; strictly nocturnal in different keys constructed by Anderson [7], Flower [8], Wassif [9], land or near desert and this species has no conflict with human. and identification. Identification of the hedgehog were done using summer, emerging at dusk and feed for 5 to 6 hours Roberts [1]. Setzer [10] and Osborn & Helmy [11, 12]. They excavate their burrows; burrow entrance is covered under bushes and shrub; when ground is hard it may be less than one Results and Discussion than one foot. In sandy and softer soil, the burrow may be more These animals were observed in the Village of Awlad Nasir - Naga than 5 feet. The burrow leads to wider chamber, inside a small chamber Krishna and Parakash [3]. The burrow has sloped about to the sunset. Especially after the sunset because it’s activity at Tarkhan, north of Sohag Governorate, at the period from afternoon one foot below the surface. H. collaris is unsocial species and does night. These animals appeared after the harvest period of the wheat not share a burrow with the same species Roberts [1]. This species crop in burrows under the piles of corn, sorghum & palm trees and food is insects, insect larvae, lizards, birds’ eggs, cannibalism is also on the sides of the agricultural canals, feeding on soil insects, grass recorded in this species; female eat their own offspring; while adult and some pests. we transferred them to the agricultural animal eat their young hedgehog Prakash [4]. This species also attacked on the dangerous prey (i.e. venomous snakes) and eat them Krishna keys of the taxonomy in the animal kingdom as follows: (Figure 1). laboratory for breeding and classified according to the different and Parakash [3] & Mirza [5]. Hemiechimus auritus is distributed in Libya, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, USSR, Iran, India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Mongolia, China. Colak et al. [6].

Copyright@ Abd El-Aleem Saad Soliman Desoky | Biomed J Sci & Tech Res| BJSTR. MS.ID.003239. 14036 Volume 19- Issue 1 DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2019.19.003239

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Erinaceomorpha (Insectivora) Family: Erinaceidae Genus: Hemiechinus Species: Hemiechinus auritus Common name: Long-eared hedgehog Figure 1: Long-eared hedgehog (Hemiechinus auritus).

The results similar with Anderson [7], Flower [8], Wassif [9], 4. Prakash I (1955) Cannibalism in Hegdgehogs. JBNHS 52: 100-109.

Setzer [10] and Osborn & Helmy [11,12]. The long-eared hedgehog, 5. Mirza ZB (1969) The Small mammals of West Pakistan. Central Urdu Hemiechinus auritus was collected from Kawm El-Aaqula area, 15 Board. Lahore, Pakistan. km west of El-Burg. Two specimens were caught alive from their 6. Çolak E, N Yigit, M Sozen, S Özkurt (1998) A Study on the Long-eared burrow under the vegetation, collected this hedgehog from Baltim hedgehog, Hemiechinus auritus in Turkey, Tr J of Zoology 22: 131-136. By the analysis of stomach contents, insects formed the only food (Gmelin, 1770) (Mammalia: Insectivora) and El-Burg. The sub specific status of this hedgehog is aegyptius. 7. Anderson J (1902) Zoology of Egypt. Mammalia (revised and completed item. So, it is recorded before, in the Nile Delta, but This research by WE De Winton). Hugh Ress Ltd London.

8. Flower S (1932) Notes on the recent mammals of Egypt, with a list of is the first record of long-eared hedgehog from to the south in surveys should be done to know the distribution of all mammalian the species recorded from that Kingdom. Proc Zool Soc London 102(2): Sohag Governorate (Upper Egypt). We suggest that more work and 368-450. species in the region and their impact on the environment, whether useful or harmful. 9. National Biodivesity Unit. No. 4, Egypt. Envir. Aff. Agency (EEAA), Cairo, Wassif K (1995) Guide to Mammals of Natural Protectorates in Egypt. References p. 85.

1. Roberts TJ (1997) The Mammals of Pakistan. Oxford University Press. 10. Setzer H (1957) The hedgehogs and shrews (Insectivora) of Egypt. J New York, USA. Egypt Publ Hlth Ass 32: 1-17.

2. Molur S, C Srinivasulu, B Srinivasulu, S Walker, PO Nameer, et al. (2005) 11. Osborn D, Helmy I (1980) The contemporary land mammals of Egypt Status of nonvolant small mammals Conservation Assessment and (including Sinai). Fieldiana Zool New Series No. 5.

Asia, Coimbatore, India. 12. Species Composition. Mammals Chapter 13. Management Plan (C.A.M.P) Zoo Outreach Organisation / CBSG-South 3. Krishna D, I Parakash (1955) Hedgehog of the desert of Rajasthan. JBNHS 53: 362-366.

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